Board Member Profiles

Natalie Miller-Moore, Chair - joined the Board of Trustees in February of 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Bowling Green State University. She currently runs her own business as a health communications consultant, offering publicity, marketing, and research services to clients in the healthcare field. Together with two partners, she is a founder of Work Nimbly, the first creative co-working location in Williamsburg. She is a regular patron of the library with her family, which includes her husband Dan and three sons. Having worked in libraries in high school and college, she appreciates the hard work that takes place behind the scenes to make the community and information aspects of the library work for citizens. Ms. Miller-Moore is pleased to serve on the board to continue to raise awareness of the changing nature of libraries, particularly their role as information commons and community exchanges, not just buildings with books. She plans on bringing the perspective of young families and people using the library for research for their work.

Jean Stettler, Vice-Chair - joined the board in July of 2017. Originally from Springfield PA, she received a Bachelor of Science from Ursinus College in Health & Physical Education and Master of Arts in counseling from Villanova University. Her career in teaching included Germantown Academy Fort Washington, PA; Girls Public Day School Trust Portsmouth, England and then she came to Williamsburg in 1979 to teach and coach at the College of William and Mary. The last 20 years of her career, she was the owner and director of Merestead Sports Camp, which offered opportunities for girls to be coached by a variety of USA and foreign coaches in field hockey and lacrosse. Throughout her career, she served on a variety of boards related to her career and interests.Upon retirement, she became a member of the Williamsburg Women’s Chorus and served as President of its Board for six years and continues to sing plus ring handbells with the Tarpley Ringers of Bruton Parish Church. Ms. Stettler states, “Being asked to serve on the Library Board is an opportunity to assist in keeping the vitality of our library. I learned as a child, the library of a community offers EVERY person the chance to pursue learning in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. I feel very fortunate to work with the Board and library staff as we look forward to pursuing and implementing the mission of the library in the 21st century.”

Sally Andrews, Secretary - joined the Board of Trustees in August of 2014. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in History and a J.D. from the College of William and Mary. She was the first female associate in the Richmond office of McGuireWoods Law Firm. Following her marriage to a law school classmate, she joined the Hampton City Attorney's Office, concentrating on land use and school law. She has a son, who is a licensed CPA, but now is a Commercial Realtor in Hampton and also a daughter who is currently serving as a law clerk for a Judge on the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Kentucky. Professionally, Ms. Andrews served on the Virginia State Bar Council and was a past president of the Virginia Council of School Attorneys, the Hampton Bar Association, and the Greater Peninsula Women's Bar Association. While living in Hampton she served on numerous non-profit boards. Recently, she concluded her service on the W & M Law School Alumni Board and has consistently served on the Reunion Committees for both the College and the Law School, several times serving as co-chair. Since moving to Williamsburg, her husband and she have been frequent visitors to the Library and have been impressed with the collections, the services, and the employees. Ms. Andrews writes, "The quality of a community's library is a reflection of that community, and I will be dedicated to maintaining that excellence."

James Axtell - joined the Board of Trustees in September of 2011. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Yale and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, as well as being a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. He then taught History for 42 1/2 years at five different colleges, including 30 years at the College of William & Mary, where he was Kenan Professor of Humanities. Commenting on his appointment to the Board of Trustees, Mr. Axtell remarked, "When I was asked to stand for the Library Board, I was eager to repay the Williamsburg Regional Library for its services, pleasures, and acknowledged excellence as one of the very best in the state."

Christopher Gareis - joined the board in August of 2017. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in English and East Asian Studies at Washington and Lee University, his master of arts in English education degree from the College of William and Mary and his doctorate in educational leadership from William and Mary. Born in Chicago and raised in Atlanta, he came to Virginia to pursue his education and now calls Virginia home. He and his wife, Molly, who is the Director of the Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool (affectionately known as “Co-op”), have lived in Williamsburg since 1993. Their three children are/have been fifers in the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums Corps, students in the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, and WRL cardholders. Mr. Gareis began his career as a high school English teacher and varsity soccer coach. He subsequently served the community as an assistant principal, principal, and assistant to the superintendent. In 2001, he joined the faculty of the School of Education at W&M, where he is a professor of education and where he served as an associate dean for more than 10 years. Mr. Gareis believes that “A community’s public library is a reflection of the value that community places on the potentiality of citizens of every age and background, as well as a reflection of its shared commitment to a democratic way of life.”

Theodore Hiller - joined the Board of Trustees in August of 2018. Ted graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York in 1955 with a Bachelor’s degree. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was president of the student body his senior year. He attended Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery and graduated in 1959 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Ted served his jjtwo year commitment in the US Army in the Dental Corps and left the military as a Captain. He practiced dentistry in Fayetteville, New York for forty-two years. There he served on the Fayetteville Free Library Board for eight years and was President for four of those years. Ted served on the Friends of Williamsburg Regional Library Board and was President for four years. He is in the James City County Rotary and Masons Williamsburg #6. Ted drives for Faith In Action. Mr. Hiller writes, “The Williamsburg Regional Library is a major asset in our community and I am pleased to be a part of it.”

Barry Marten - joined the Board of Trustees in July 2016. He earned BSed. and MSed. degrees in Chemistry from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. Mr. Marten retired from Siemens Automotive Corporation in Newport News, Virginia, where he held various management-level positions in the fields of advanced product development, materials and process technology, and environmental affairs. He completed his second term as a member of the Williamsburg Regional Library Foundation Board of Directors on June 30, 2016, and was Board President from 2013-2016. He is currently a member of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. He previously served as President of the James River Association Board of Directors and was Vice-Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board. Mr. Marten stated, “I consider it an honor to be appointed to the library’s Board of Trustees. The WRL has become an outstanding, award-winning library that has served the area for over a century, and I have always been impressed with the broad base of services it offers. However, the library cannot afford to rest on its laurels, and I look forward to working with the other members of the Board and library staff to explore opportunities for continual improvement of library’s programs and services to meet the ever-expanding needs and expectations of its users in the community and region.”

Theresa Owens - coming soon

Jason Purse - coming soon

Nicole Trifone - joined the Board of Trustees in October of 2017. Nicole earned her bachelor’s degree in newspaper journalism and history from Syracuse University. She has worked in the journalism industry as either a writer or editor, since graduating in 2006. After a decade of working at weekly and daily newspapers, both in print and online, she currently works for a magazine, Colonial Williamsburg’s Trend & Tradition, as a writer/editor. Nicole grew up in Williamsburg and benefited from its fantastic library system. She is grateful for the opportunity to help the Williamsburg Regional Library continue to evolve for the benefit of future generations.